Sheet-feeding mechanism



A. J. FREEMAN. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, I917- RENEWED JULY 2% 1920.

1,378 187, Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

IN V EN TOR. flri/zur. J7 E'eeman A TTORNEYS'.

A. J. FREEMAN SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED EEB. T. 1917.RENEWED JULY 2011920.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

[nae/22 07 A. 1. FREEMAN. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM APPLICATION FILED FEB.7 I917 RENEWED ILILY 20,1920.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

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ARTHUR I. I, O! PETAIIUIA, GALII'OBHI4.,.ABSIGNOB, BY ABSIGH- mum's, TOB. G. LEWIS, OF, LTASCADERO, CALIFORNIA.

SHEET-FEEDING H s Specification of new man.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

Application filed February 7, 1917, Serial No. 147,290. Renewed July 20,1990. Serial, No. 897,704.

To all whomitmay concern:

. Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. FREEMAN, citizen of the United States,residing at Petaluma' in the county of Sonoma and State of alifornia,have invented new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Feeding Mechanism, ofwhich the following is a Specification.

This invention relates to a machine for automatically printingphotographic sheets and loading the printed sheets into racks fordevelopment or other pu It is the object of this invention to provide amachine for printing photographs, which embodies means for automaticallydelivering sensitized sheets to a negative, exposing the sheet andnegative to the ac? tion of light rays for a predetermined length oftime, removing the printed sheet from the negative and delivering it toa specially constructed rack wherein each sheet will be held in aseparate compartment.

Another object is to provide meansfor picking up sheets of material, oneat 'a time, and delivering them to a contact plate without touching theemulsion or sensitized side:

Another object is to provide means fordelivering the exposed prints to arack in which the sheets will be held separate from one another.

Another object is to provide means for combining the above features, ina machine to enable it to operate rapidly and accurately The inventionconsists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts, ashereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to theaccompany 'ing drawings in which- Figure 1 is EL'SQCtlOIl on chine. V

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the pick-up device including suctioncup andpump, parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the spring finger operating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of plate 42, Fig.

lines 1-1, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the entire ma-- Fig. 7 is anelevation of one of the wings on the contact plate.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the operating camsshowing their relativepositions.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of Fig. 6 on v line 9-9.

Fig. 10 is a side holder.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the rack loading elevation of the negativemechanism.

In the drawings, the pe A and B and cross-plates D, E, F and Gconstitute the framework of the machine.

In one upper corner, extending between plates A and B, is located apaper hopper ndicular sides 2, (Figs. 1 and 2), arranged so as toreceive rods 7, threaded at their outer ends and.

carrying nuts 8. By this construction side plates 3 may be moved towardor away from one another and be held in an position by tightening nuts8, thus adaptlng the hopper. so that it may be adjusted to hold sheetsof various lengths. Bottom plate 9 is carried byrod 10, the end of whichextends into a hole through plate 9 and is held in a certainlongitudinal position but permitted to turn, by a pin 11 that extendsthrough the side of plate 9 and into a groove 12 turned near the end .ofrod 10. Bottom plate 9 is formled with} lateral projections 13, whichextend within longitudinal grooves formed in plates 3. Rod 10 is mountedin threaded bearings 14 and reciprocating movement is imparted theretoby turning the hand wheel 15 .firmly mounted at its outer end. Byrotating rod 10, plate 9 may be-longitudinally adjusted to any desiredpositionito keep the topmost sheet in the stack atfa'bout a certainforward position and within reach of suction cup 27 regardless of thenumber of sheets in the hopper. Hopper 2- is also provided with means,for

holding the stack of sheet material back against bottom plate 9, whichmeans conslst of spring pressed fingers 16 pivoted to lateralprojections 17 formed on the sides of plates A and B and the fingersextending in through longitudinal slots in plates A, B and 3 bearagainst the topmost sheet of the stack. The fingers 16 a so prevent morethan one sheet being removed at one time by the pick-up device whichwill later be more fully described.

Situated at about an equal distance from, and extending parallel to thesides A and B, on the under side of and parallel to plate E is thesuction pump 18, mounted to have reciprocating movement and operated byeccentric cam 19 through rod 20, arm 21, link 22 and simple lever 23.Suction pump 18 is mounted in bearings 24, attached to the underside ofplate E and comprises a cylinder 25 (particularly shown in Fig. 3) witha tubular piston and rod 26, on the outer end of which is mounted aflexible cup 27, a slide valve 28 and a collar 29. Wound on piston rod26 is a helical spring 30 disposed between and bearing against collar 29and the end of cylinder 25 to normally retain the piston in itsforwardmost position. Wound oil slide' valve 28 is a helical spring 31,one end of -which is disposed within and bears against the bottom ofanannular groove in suction cup 27; the other-end extends to and bearsagainst flange 32 to normally hold slide valve 28 over hole 33 whichextends through the wall of piston rod 26. Mounted on rod 34, whichprojects from the end of cylinder 25, is a block 35 with two planedparallel sides from one of which projects a pin 36, the outer end ofwhich is disposed within a'longi'tudinal slot formed in the uppe-rend oflever 23, in such a manner as to impart to pump 18 a reciprocatingmotion' when lever 23 is rocked on its pivot 37. Lever 23 has a plate 38extendin parallel therewith and spaced from an connected thereto asshown in Fig. 13. Block 35 extends between, and its planed sides bearagainst, plate 38 and lever 23 in such a manner as to prevent cylinder25 from turning. in its bearings. When pump 18 is in its outwardmostposition, the outer end of piston rod 26 is within an opening 39situated at about thelongitudinal center of and extending through plate0. Mounted on the back side of and extending into the opening 39 inplate C are lugs 40 the ends of which are disposed to be in the path oftravel of the flange 32 and engage it to open slide valve 28 when pump18 is in its outwardmost position. When pump 18 is in its inwardmostposition, suction cup 27 will be in contact with the topmost sheet instack 49 and the end of cylinder 25 will be disposed within the opening39. Adjustably mounted on and parallel to the faceof plate C are groovedplates 42 adapted to receive and retain for a period of time a sheetdelivered to them by suction pump 18. Attached to the back side and atabout the longitudinal center of plates 42 are rods 43 disposed to ridein a longitudinal groove 44, which is formed in the face and Situated atabout an equal distance from the top and bottom of plate C. Attachedtorods 43 and extending through and beyond a longitudinal slot 45 in plateO are rods 46, threaded at their outer ends and carrying thumb nuts 47.By this construction, plates 42 may be horizontally adjusted in relationto each other and be adapted to receive and retain sheets of variouslengths. Mounted near the lower side and at about the longitudinalcenter of plate C is a plate spring 48, the outer end of which isnormally disposed in the path of downward travel of sheet 49, so as toengage its lower edge and to prevent it from dropging down and out frombetween plates 42.

pring 48 is weak enough to be pressed down and out of the path of travelof sheet 49 by the sheet when a slight downward pressure is delivered tothe sheet. Situated on the inner face of, extending parallel to andacross plates A and B are rods 50 on which are mounted, to havereciprocating motion, blocks 51 operated by cam 52 through link 53, arm54, shaft 55, arms 56 and links 57. Firrnlyattached to blocks 51 arerods 58, which extend across and in front of plates 42 and carry fingers59 ,which are disposed across a due line between grooves 60 in plates 42and operated to engage the upper edge of a. sheet 49 and force it downand out from between plates 42. Normally disposed directly below plates42 with its face on a plane parallel to plate C and on a direct linewith grooves 60 in plates 42 is a pressure plate 61 suitably mounted onrod 62 and adapted to have reci rocating movement and operated in onedirection by cam 52 through roller 63 mounted in the end of rod 62 andbrought back to its normal position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 byhelical spring 64 which is wound on shaft 62 with one end extendingwithin and bearing against spring case 65, firmly mounted on rod 62; theother end bearing against rigid bearing 66. When plate 61 is in itsoutwardmost position, it is in close contact with plate 67 in holder 68.Pressure plate 61 has pivoted to its perpendicular sides wings 69 whichare held in a normal forward position by torsion springs 7 O and areswung to their backward position by coming into engagement withprojecting plates 71 when plate 61 is moved to its outwardmost position.When in their normal position, a portion of wings 69 extend in front andaenox the face of plate 61 to receive and hold a sheet delivered to themfrom grooved plates 42, against the face of plate 61. At the bottom ofand near thetwoperpendicular sides and extend' ing through plate 61 arepins 72 which are mounted to have reciprocating movement and when in a.normal position a portion of the pins extendback of plate 61 and when intheir forwardmost osition a portion of the pins extend beyond the faceof plate 61, (as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6) in such a manner as toengage the lower ed of a sheet being delivered to the face of p ate 61and stop its downward movement at a certain and accurate sition. movedto a forwair osition by plate 73 mounted on rod 74. 0d 74 is mounted tohave reciprocating movement in bearings 75 and is moved to itsinwardmost position by lever 76 which is pivoted at 77 and the upper enddisposed in the path of travel of arm 21. Rod 74 is moved to itsoutwardmost position by helical'spring 78 wound thereon and bearing atone end against pin 79 which extends through rod 74: and at the otherend against rigid bearing 75. Pins 72 are moved to their normal positionwhen brought into contact with plate 67 when plate 61 is moved to itsoutwardmost position. Plate 61 is mounted to have reciprocating movementon shaft 62 and is held in a normal position by helical spring 80 and aset-screw 81 the end of said screw extending within a groove in and nearthe end of rod 62 to hold plate 61 on rod 62. This arrangement permitsplate 61 to automatically adjust its position on rod 62 when in itsoutwardmost position, thus adapting the machine for handlin plates andsheets of various thicknesses. %n the face of plate 61 is attached a pad82, of suitable resilient material to insure close contact of sheet 49with plate 67. Plate 61 has a lateral projection 83 which bears againsta similar projection 84 at the lower side of plate C. This serves tokeep plate 61 in exact a'lineme-nt with plates 42 and holder 68. Plate61 is not adjustable to various sizes of sheets but may be removed fromthe end of rod 62 and replaced by a similar plate adapted for the sizesheet desired.

Situated directly opposite and parallel to the face of plate 61 isnegative holder or 'printing frame 68 mounted so that it may be readilyremoved from the frame of the machine. Extending parallel to and acrossthe face of frame 68 is a rod 85 mounted to turn in its bearings 86.Adjustably mounted on either end of rod 85 are plates 87 which arenormally disposed and held in a position approximately parallel to theface of frame 68 (particularly shown by Fig. 10). Plates 87 extendparallel to one another and may be moved inwardly on rod 85 and heldsecurely in any position by set screws 88. This construction enablesthem to be adapted for holding negatives and masks of various sizes andreceive pressure plates and sheets of Pins 72 are various 1e hs. Theinward sides of plates 87 are slig tly beveled'as shown in F1g. 11

so that a printed sheet will not bind, but

readily drop out of the frame after being released by the pressureplate. a

Mounted in a suitable housing, back of frame 68,- is an incandescentelectric lamp 97, of a suitable character, which is turned on and oilwhen plate .61 is in contact with negative 67, by an adjustable,automatic, electric switch 101, mounted on the outer face of plate B andoperated by shaft 98.

Situated directly under frame 68 and connected therewith by a trough Iis a rack 109 adapted to recelve and hold in separate compartmentsprinted sheets dro ped from frame 68. The rack shown in F igs. 1 and 11comprises no part of my invention and any suitable rack adapted for thepurpose may be used. Attached to the underside of a carriage 110 arelongitudinal ribs 111 adapted to and bearing in longitudinal grooves 112formed in plate H. Secured to the underside of carriage 110 is a ratchetplate 113, the teeth of which extend over the edge of a longitudinalroove 114 formed in and on the undersidi of carriage 110. The teeth inratchet 113 are spaced a dis tance exactly equal to the distance betweenthe compartments in rack 109. Mounted in a suitable bearing on theunderside of plate H is a rod 115 adapted to have rocking andlongitudinal reciprocating movement. Firmly attached to rod 115 is anarm 116, the outer end of which meshes with the teeth in ratchet 113.Wound on shaft 115 and extending between and bearing against rigidbearing 117 and crank 118 is helical spring 119 adapted to hold arm 116against the face of ratchet 113. When rod 115 is rocked arm 116 rides upthe inclined face of a tooth in ratchet 113, moving shaft 115 in alongitudinal direction and compressing spring 119. Pawl 120 prevents anybackward movement of ratchet 113. As the movement of the shaft iscontinued, arm 116 rides past the perpendicular face of the ratchettooth and is brought into engagement therewith by the recoil action ofspring 119. As shaft 115 is rocked back to its normal position, arm 116bears against a tooth in ratchet 113 and moves carriage 110 forward anexact distance equal to t e distance between the compartments in rack109, thus bringing another compartment directly under trough I. Red 115is operated by crank 118 through link 121 and crank 122 attached to rod55. Shaft 98 turns in a bearing 123 suitably mounted on plate G, andextends through and beyond a suitable journal in plate 13. Attached tothe outer end of shaft 98 is the arm 99 of the electric switch. Mountedon the inner end of shaft 98 are cams 19 and 52 through which the entiremechanism of the machine is operated.- Gam 19 is mounted directlyopposite the outer end, with its axis horizontal and at right angles tothe longitudinal center line' of rod 20 and so disposed that its facewill bear against a roller 124, mounted in the end of rod 20. Rigidlyattached to the end of rod 20 is a member 125 which most position. Cam52 has shown in Fi extends either side of and beyond the hub of cam 52and has attached to its outer end a plate 126 which is disposed parallelto the face of cam 19 and within the path of travel of roller 127mounted on the side of cam 19 to cause shaft 20 to move to its outermostposition when cam 19 is rotated. Cam 19 has an eccentric face 128.WlllCh bears against roller 124 mounted in the end of rod 20 to causerod 20 to move to its inwardmost position when cam 19 1s revolved.- Cam19 also has a concentric face 129 which occupies about 90 of itscircumference and bears against roller 124 to hold shaft 20 atits-inwardmost position for about 4 of the revolution of shaft 98. Cam52 1s mounted directly opposite the outer end, with its axis horizontaland at right angles to the longitudinal center line of rod 62 and sodisposed that its face will bear against roller 63, mounted in the endof rod 62. Cam 52 has an eccentric face 130 which when cam 52 isrevolved in a direction indicated by the arrow will bear agalnst roller63 and cause rod 62 to move to its outwarda concentric face 131 whichoccupies about 175 of its circumference and bears against roller 63 tohold rod 62 at its outwardmost position for a period of time. Pivoted tocam 52 is a link 53 which connects at its outer end with an arm 54 torock shaft 55 when cam 52 is revolved. Shaft 98 is rotated by gear 132through pinion 133, clutch 134 and pulley 135 from any suitable sourceof power, preferably an electric motor driven by the same electriccurrent with which the lamp 1s lighted.

The operation of the above described embodiment of my invention is asfollows:

Assuming the parts to be in the position gs. 1, 2, 6, and 11. As shaft98 is revolved link 53 pivoted to cam 52, is given an upward movementwhich, through arm 54, shaft 55, arms 56 and links 57, give blocks 51 adownward motion causing fingers 59, which are connected to block 51 byrod 58, to engage the top of sheet '49 and move it down and out frombetween plates 42' and onto the face of pressure plate 61, between wings69 and against plus 72 which have in the meantime been brought to theirforwardmost position by plate 73, operated by the recoil of spring 78.Spring 78 is released by the outward movement of rod 20 which carriesthe arm 21 out of engagement with the upper end of lever 7 6; theoutward movement of rod 20 having 27 will come into contact with beencaused by the roller 127 engaging with plate 126.

As shaft 98 further revolves, the face 130 of cam 52 bears a ainstroller 63 and moves rod 62, carrying p ate 61, to its outwardmostposition, thus placing sheet 49 carried by plate 61 into contact withnegative 67. As plate 61 was moved outwardly, the ends of wings 69 wereengaged by plates 71 and vi lings 69 swung to the back of plate 61, t usplates 87 and place sheet 49 in close contact with negative 67. The face131 of cam 52 will now "bear against roller 63 and hold plate 61 in itsoutwardmost position nearly one half of the revolution of shaft 98. Theinstant that plate 61 is into eontactwith negative 67, the electricswitch 101 will cause an electric current to flow through and lightlamps 97. At about the time that the upper edge of sheet 49 reaches aposition below the path of travel of suction cup 27, the roller 127 oncam 19 engages the face of plate 126 and moves rod 20 to its outwardposition and through arm 21, link 22 and lever 23, moves pump 18 to itsinwardmost position. When pump 18 is about two-thirds of the way in, cupthe topmost sheet in stack ment of piston 26. The pump 18 in travelingthe remainder of the distance to its inwardmost position will move downon piston and rod 26, forcing the air out of cylinder 25 and compressinghelical spring 30. As cam 19 continues to revolve its face 128 will bearagainst roller 124 mounted in the end of rod 20 and move rod 20 to itsinwardmost position and through lever 23 move pump 18 to its outwardmostposition. As pump 18 begins to move outward, spring 30 will exert apressure. against collar 29 and force piston 26 toward the front end ofcylinder 25, thus producing a partial vacuum in the rear end of cylinder25 and communicating through the tubular piston and rod to the innerside of cup 27 which lies in close contact with sheet 49, creates asuction sufiicient to afiix the sheet 49 to the cup 27.

As pump 18 moves to its outwardmost osition, it will carry sheet 49 to aposition etween grooved plates 42, and projecting lugs 40 will engagethe flange 32 of slide valve 28 and stop its outward movement, therebyuncovering hole 33 and thus breaking the suction in cup 27 and releasingsheet 49. Sheet 49, when normal and unconfined, lies approximately flat,but while being drawn between grooved plates 42 both ends will engagethe outer edges of plates 42 and the sheet will be slightly curved untilreleased by cup 27 when it resumes its normal shape and extends betweenrooved plates 42 its ends within and engaging the permitting plate 61 toenter between (49, thus stopping the move-.

,weight being carried by grooves 60, its lower edge restingon and itsplate spring 48. As soon as pump 18 reac es its outwardmost osition, theconcentric face 129 of cam 19 wi I reach roller 124 and hold pumo18 inits outwardmost position durin a at one-fourth of the revolution of saft 98. At about the time that pump 18 reaches its outermost positionthe fingers 59 0 rated by cam 52, through link 53, wi reached theiruppermost osition and crank 122, through link 121, wi I operate thesheet receiving rack shifting mechanism (as previou'sly described) toplace another compartment of rack 109 under trough I. The

concentric face 131 of cam 52 will now have passed roller 63 and therecoil action of spring 64 will move pressure plate 61 to its inwardmostposition, thus releasing the now printed sheet 49 and allowing it todrop into trough I and thence into a compartment of rack 109.

It is manifest that while I have described the apparatus as applied tothe printing ofphotographs, it is equally adapted to other purposes: Forexample,/the negative 67 may be replaced-by a hectograph plate on whichlettering or a design has been drawn with ink or coloring material andsheets of. paper or other material fed thereto and ressed into contacttherewith and the rinte sheets placed into separate receptac es of arack fordrying or other purposes. Negative 67 'may be replaced by aclear glass and an image thrown thereon by a projection lens andenlarged or reduced photographic copies made therefrom and delivered toa rack for development or other purposes. From the foregoing it will beseen that have provided a machine for printing photographs and loadingthe printed sheets into racks where each sheet will be held in aseparate compartment; This machine is entirely automatic in itsoperation and can be adjusted tohandle sheets of various sizes and toprint from negatives of different densities.

I cllkaim: f d h 1. sheet ee ing mec anism comprising means for holdinga stack of sheets, pneumatic means for removing the sheets individuallyfrom the stack, spaced edge guides for the sheet between which thepneumatic means is operable, and means for shifting the removed sheet insaid guides transversely from the pneumatic means.

2. A sheet feeding mechanism comprising means for supporting a stack ofsheets whereby the uppermost sheet is bowed, pneumatic means forremoving the uppermost sheet and holding it in its bowed condition whilebeing removed, sheet guiding means for guiding the sheet in a fiat form,said pneumatic means movable within the sheetguiding means, and meansfor rendering the have to flatten into operative relation with thelatter, and means for pushing the sheet edgewise from said guidingmeans.

4. A sheet feeding mechanism comprising means for supporting a stack ofsheets whereby the uppermost sheet is bowed, pneumatic means forremoving the uppermost sheet and holding it in its bowed condition whilebeing removed, sheetiding means for guiding the sheet in a t form, saidpneumati means movable within the sheetguiding means, and means foreffecting a release of the sheet from the pneumatic meanswhereby thesheet may flatten out into the guiding means, sheet-advancing means forreceiving the sheet from the guiding means and means for transferringthe sheet from said guiding means to the advancing means.

5. A sheet feeding mechanism comprising 100 a ho per for receiving astack of sheets, said opper having a convexed bottom to bow the sheetsthereon, spring fingers engagin the uppermost sheet of the stack atspace points and a sheetipping suction cup movable between the fi iigersto engage and remove the u permost sheet. 1 6. A sheet feeding mechanismcomprising means for holdin a supply of sheets, and pneumatic means orremoving the sheets individuallyl therefrom and consisting of a cylinderaving a s ring-extended plun er operable therein sai plunger rovidedwlth a hollow rod supporting a rub er cup on its outer end andcommunicating therewith, 11 said rubber cup movable against the sheetsto grip the same following a telescoping of the plunger in the cylinder,and means slidable on the plunger rod for controlling an air porttherein.

7. A sheet feeding mechanism comprising means for supportin a stack ofsheets horizontally, a horizonta 1y slidable suction cup operable towardand from the stack to remove the sheets individually therefrom, 125spaced vertical guides between which the cup is movable to guide thesheet when released therefrom, and means for effecting a release of thesheet from said cup.

8. A sheet feeding mec anism comprising 130 spaced vertical guidesbetween which the cup is movable to guide the sheet when releasedtherefrom, and sheet advancing means normally disposed below the guidesto receive a sheet therefrom, and means for releasing a sheet from thecup when between the guides.

9. A sheet feeding mechanism comprising means for supporting a stack ofsheets, means for engaging the uppermost sheet of the staclcand removingit therefrom in a bowed condition whereby when released the sheet willflatten out, and spaced guiding channels into which the ed es of thesheet will move when the sheet 1s released from the second means.

10. A sheet feeding mechanism comprising means for supporting a stack ofsheets, means for-engaging the uppermost sheet of the stack and removingit therefrom in a bowed condition whereby when released the sheet willflatten out, a pair of opposing channels adapted to receive the edges ofthe sheet when released from said second means,

and means for removing the sheets edgewise through the channels.

11. A sheet feeding mechanism comprising means for supporting a stack ofsheets, means for engaging the uppermost sheet of the stack and removing1t therefrom in a bowed condition whereby when released the sheetwillflatten. out, and a pair of opposing guide channels desi ned toreceive the opposite edges of the s' eet when released from the secondmeans and means for releasing the sheet from said second means by andduring movement of the latter between the guide channels.

12. A' sheet feeding mechanism comprising means for supporting a stackof sheets, means for en aging the uppermost sheet of the stack anremoving it therefrom in a bowed condition whereby when released thesheet will flatten out, and opposing guide means designed to receive theedges of the sheet upon being released from the second means, means forefi'ecting the release of the sheet from the second means by and duringmovement of the latter, and means for pushing the released sheetedgewise through the guide means.

' ARTHUR J. FREEMAN.

